Coast Guard responds to unmanned adrift dinghy near Point Vicente

 

News Release

U.S. Coast Guard 11th District PA Detachment LA/LB Contact: Coast Guard PA Detachment LA/LB Office: (310) 521-4260 After Hours: (310) 781-0619 PA Detachment LA/LB online newsroom

Coast Guard responds to unmanned adrift dinghy near Point Vicente 

SAN PEDRO, Calif. — The Coast Guard searched for the owner of an unmanned adrift dinghy found approximately four nautical miles west of Point Vicente, Saturday.

 

Anyone with information that may help identify the owner of the dinghy is asked to contact Coast Guard Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach Command Center personnel at (310) 521-3801.

 

A Coast Guard Air Station San Francisco Forward Operating Base Point Mugu MH-65 Dolphin helicopter crew conducted searches in the area that the unmanned dinghy was found. Crews aboard a Coast Guard Station Los Angeles-Long Beach 45-foot Response Boat-Medium and the Coast Guard Cutter Blacktip also assisted with the search. Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach issued an urgent marine information broadcast alerting mariners in the area to the situation.

 

Sector Los Angeles-Long Beach Command Center watchstanders received notification at 10:45 a.m. from a good Samaritan vessel who reported the unmanned dinghy. There were no reported signs of distress or missing persons in the area.

 

The Coast Guard offers free “If Found” decals that can be placed in a visible location on small vessels or human-powered watercraft through the Operation Paddle Smart program. The information on the sticker can allow response entities to quickly identify the vessel’s owner and aid search and rescue planners in determining the best course of action. Positive identification may also allow the item to be returned to the owner.

 

The stickers can be obtained for free at local harbormasters through the Coast Guard Auxiliary and at select marine retail and supply stores.

-USCG-